shovv Which I have found in an old manuscript But in our late records is overslipt Which storie no lesse probable is than true And my good Monsier I vvill show it you I leave to speak vvhat Hollinshed hath told Of Cunidag vvas Britaine king of old The time Vzziah was of Iuda king And Ieroboam did ov'r Israel reigne Ere Rome a citie was yeers fourtie five Ere sons of Rhea did for masterie strive Hovv that this Heathen built three cels of stone To Mercurie at Bongor built he one His vvay for to direct then to Apollo At Cornuel another did he hallovv For favourable response the third to Mars Where Perth novv stands for to assist his wars But good Monsier this storie is too old Therefore I leave the rest of it untold The time vvill not permit me to out-read it I 'm sure in Hollinshed yee often read it I will a storie of no lesse credite tell In after ages truely what befell When mightie Romaines came into this soile With endlesse labour and undaunted toile After great conflicts and uncertaine chance Of Fortunes dye they did in armes advance At length unto these parts where Perth doth stand Under the conduct and victorious hand Of that most valiant Chieftain of great fame Brave Iulius Agricola by Name And there hard by a river side they found The fairest and most pleasant plot of ground That since by bank of Tiber they had beene The like for beautie seldome had they seene Of eighteene hundreth paces good in length From Muretowne brays to foot of Carnaks strength King of the Pights which stood on Moredune hill The foot thereof from Friers dwelt thereintill Now named is in breadth eight hundreth paces Painted with white red yellow flowrie faces So equall fair which when they did espy Incontinent they Campus Martius cry And as an happie presage they had seene They fixt their tents amidst that spatious greene Right where now Perth doth stand and cast their trenches Even where Perths fowsies are between these inches The south and north and bastalies they make The power and strength of Scots and Pights to brake Who presently would fight by wise cunctation They frustrat all their hope and expectation For well this most victorius Romaine knew T' abate his Enemies rage and courage too Finding the place even to their hearts desire With grasse for pasture stor'd and wood for fire The river likewise verie opportune For lighter vessels to passe up and downe And correspondence with their Navie make As Souldiers wise they all occasions take And do conclude to winter in that place To foile their foes by voluntarie chace Meane while couragiously they do advise A bridge to build for further enterprise Then forthwith fall they with redoubling stroaks To fell the tall firre trees and aged oaks Some square the timber with a stretched line Some do the tenons and the morties joine Some frame an ovall others make a cub Some cut a section other some do grub Some with great compasse semicircles forme Some drive the wadges painfullie some worme Some do hoyse up the standers others fixe them And some lay goodly rafters ov'r betwixt them What strength or skill can work from point to point They cunningly contrive with angular joint And do most strongly binde these contignations To make them stand against all inundations All men are set on frame all hands are working And all ingines are bussied without irking Thus in short space a bridge they strongly make With passage fair and for their safeties sake A mightie strength to be they frame withall On either end a bridge to lift and fall That souldiers might within it keep at ease Admitting or repelling as they please Thus fortified lest that they should neglect Due honour to their gods they did erect To Mars a temple rather did restore The temple built by Cunidag before For time on all things worketh demolition And heathen men maintaine like superstition Then did this valiant chiftaine name the river In Italies remembrance Neo-Tiber Which afterwards it kept for many a day How long I know not now it s called Tay. Likewise an house of mightie stone he framed From whence our Castell-gavell as yet is named And if Domitian had not cald him home I think he should have built another Rome But all these monuments were worne away Ere did King William Perths foundation lay Only Mars temple stood upon that greene And th' house built by Agricola was seene And some characters cunningly incisde With Iulius Agricola imprisde In solid marmor and some print was found Where camped had an armie and the ground Where there had beene a bridge all which did yeeld Occasion to King William for to beild After old Bertha's overthrow that citie These ancient walls and famous bridge ah pitie If they were as But what doth not the rage Of men demolish and consuming age For good King William seeing where had beene Of old a passage forthwith did ordaine A mightie bridge of squaired stone to be These famous wals and fusies which we see Perth his chief strength to make and seat of power Did with most ample priviledge indue her These be the first memorials of a bridge Good Monsier that we truely can alledge Thus spake good Gall and I did much rejoice To heare him these antiquities disclose Which I remembring now of force must cry Gall sweetest Gall what ailed thee to die The fourth Muse. THis time our boat passing too nigh the land The vvhirling streame did make her run on sand Aluif vve cry'd but all in vain t' abide We were constrain'd till flowing of the tide Then Master Gall quod I even for my blessing Now let us go the pretious pearles a fishing Th' occasion serveth well while heere we stay To catch these mussels you call toyts of Tay It 's possible if no ill eye bewitch us We jewels finde for all our dayes t' enrich us The waters here are shald and clear and warme To bath our armes and lims will do no harme For these sweet streames have power to bring back Our spirits which in outward parts make slake Our naturall strength but when these sprits retire They multiplie our heat and inbred fire Helping our vitall and our naturall parts Our lungs our levers stomachs and our hearts And mightily refrigerat our reanes But above all they do refresh our spleans For such a bathing bravely doth expell Melancholie which makes the splean toswell More than it should causing an atrophie That we like skelets rather seeme to be Then men and Atropos appears to laugh Thinking we look liker an Epitaph Then marriage song likewise it doth us make Both supper and collation freshly take Content said Gall Then off our shoes we drew And hose and from us we our doublets threw Our shirt sleeves wreathing up without more speeches And high above our knees pulling our breeches In waters go then streight mine armes I reach Unto the ground whence
bairnely sport And as proud peacocks with their plumes do prank Alongst the bridge they merche in battell rank Till they came to the gate with yron hands Hard by where yet our Ladies chappell stands Thinking to break these bars it made some hover Too strong they were therefore some did leap over Some crept below thus many passe in by them And in their high conceat they do defie them Forwards within the town a space they go The passage then was strait as well ye know Made by a wall having gain'd so much ground They can exult Incontinent did sound A trumpet from a watchtowre then they start And all their bloud doth strike into their heart A wondrous change even now the bravest fellows In their own fansies glasse who came to quaile us The vitall sprits their artires do containe Their panting hearts now scarcely can sustaine Our souldiurrs then who lying were a darning By sound of trumpet having got a warning Do kyth and give the charge to tell the rest Yee know it well it needs not be exprest Many to ground were born great bloud was shed He was the prettiest man that fastest fled Yea happie had they been if place had served To flee then doubtlesse more had been preserved Within these bars were kill'd above threescore Upon the bridge and waters many more But most of all did perish in the chace For they pursued were unto the place Where all their baggage and their canon lay Which to the town was brought as lawfull prey What shall I more say if more you would have I 'le speake of these three hundreth souldiours brave Like these renown'd Lacedemonians Couragious Thebans valiant Thespians Resolv'd to die led by Leonidas Stop't Xerxes armie at Thermopylas Such were these men who for Religions sake A cord of hemp about their necks did take Solemnly sworn to yeeld their lives thereby Or they the Gospels veritie deny Quiting their houses goods and pleasures all Resolv'd for any hazard might befall Did passe forth of the town in armes to fight And die or they their libertie and light Should lose and whosoever should presume To turn away that cord should be his doome Hence of Saint Iohnstoun riband came the word In such a frequent use when with a cord They threaten rogues though now all in contempt It speak yet brave and resolute attempt And full of courage worthie imitation Deserving of all ages commendation Made these men put it on symbole to be They readie were for Christ to do or die For they were Martyrs all in their affection And like to Davids Worthies in their action Therefore this cord should have beene made a badge And signe of honour to the after age Even as we see things in themselves despised By such rare accidents are highlie prised And in brave skutsheons honourablie born With mottoes rare these symbols to adorn Thus some have vermine and such loathsome swarmes Yet honourably borne are in their armes And some have myce some frogs some filthie rats And some have wolfs and foxes some have cats Yet honourable respect in all his had Though in themselves they loathsome be and bad Thus Millaine glories in the bainfull viper As none more honour misterie none deeper The auncient Gaules in toads in lillies now Metamorphosde The Phrygians in their sow Athens their owle with th' Eagle will not barter And Honi soit who thinks ill of the garter What shall be said then of this rope or cord Although of all men it be now abhord And spoke of in disdaine their ignorance Hath made them so to speak yet may it chance When they shall know the truth they will speak better And think of it as of a greater matter And truely it esteeme an hundreth fold Of much more honour than a chaine of gold Thus may you see Monsier men of renown Of old time have possest this ancient town And yet this may we boast even to this day Men of good wit and worth do not decay For to this houre some footsteps still remaines Of such couragious hearts and cunning braines Good Master Gall quoth I I know that well Whereof you speak and clearly can it tell For I did say these Men being then of age Some twelue or threttene years a prettie page As easely you may guesse and can you show Some partiall poynts whereof you nothing know Nor are they written Then answered Master Gall A witnesse such as you is above all Exception therefore show what you did see Or heare good Monsier Your antiquitie Is of great credit Master Gall quoth I Much did I see and much more did I try My Father was a man active and wight In those dayes and who helped for to fight The battell of the bridge within few yeeres Thereafter was I borne then all our quires And convents richly stood which I did see With all their pomp but these things told to me First will I shew a storie of much ruth How that our Martyrs suffered for the truth Of Christs blest Gospell on Pauls holy day Before the fight was of the bridge of Tay In that same yeere the sillie Governour Led by the craftie Cardinall with power Held judgement on these men and under trust Condemned them nothing their bloudie lust Could satiat The Citizens made sure Their neighbours should nor losse nor skaith indure Go to their homes forthwith the Cardinall Causde lead them unto execution all And from the Spey towre window did behold Doome execut even as his Cleargie would Which treacherous fact did so enrage the town No credit more to black white nor gray gown After these dayes was given Thus in the place Where malefactors end their wicked race These innocents do make a blessed end And unto God their sprits they recommend In witnesse of the faith for which they die And by the Sprit of truth did prophesie These vvords looking and pointing vvith the hand Tovvards our Monasteries vvhich then did stand Most sumptuously adorn'd vvith steples bels Church ornaments and vvhat belongeth else These foxes which do lurke within these holes Delighting in the earth like blinded moles Drown'd in their lusts and swimming in their pleasures Whose God their belly whose chief joy their treasures Who caused have our death shall hunded be Forth of these dens some present heere shall see The same ere it be long then shall yee say Its for Gods truth that we have dyed this day And all these sumptuous buildings shall be cast Down to the earth made desolat and wast This to performe Gods zeale shall eat men up To fill the double potion in their cup The apples then of pleasure which they loved And lusted after shall be all removed Yea scarcely shall they finde a hole to hide Their heads thus by the Sprite they testified And in that day true Pastours shall the Lord Raise up to feed his flock with his pure word And make Christs people by peculiar choice Dignosce the
his sake Whose matchlesse Muse immortall did you make Who now shall pen your praise and make you known By whom now shall your vertues be forth-shown Who shall declare your worth Is any able Who dar to meddle with Apelles table Ai me there 's none And is there none indeed Then must yee mourne of force there 's no remeed And I for my part with you in my turne Shall keep a dolefull consort whilst ye mourne And thus with echoing voice shall houle and cry Gall sweetest Gall what ailed thee to die Now first my Bowes begin this dolefull song No more with clangors let your shafts be flung In fields abroad but in my cabine stay And help me for to mourn till dying day With dust and cobwebs cover all your heads And take you to your matins and your beads A requiem sing unto that sweetest soul Which shines now sancted above either pole And yee my Clubs you must no more prepare To make you bals flee whistling in the aire But hing your heads and bow your crooked crags And dresse you all in sackcloth and in rags No more to see the Sun nor fertile fields But closely keep you mourning in your bields And for your part the trible to you take And when you cry make all your crags to crake And shiver when you sing alace for Gall Ah if our mourning might thee now recall And yee my Loadstones of Lidnochian lakes Collected from the loughs where watrie snakes Do much abound take unto you a part And mourn for Gall who lov'd you with his heart In this sad dump and melancholick mood The Burdown yee must bear not on the flood Or frosen watrie plaines but let your tuning Come help me for to weep by mournfull cruning And yee the rest my Gabions lesse and more Of noble kinde come help me for to roare And of my wofull weeping take a part Help to declare the dolour of mine heart How can I choose but mourne when I think on Our games Olympike-like in times agone Chieflie wherein our cunning vve did try And matchlesse skill in noble archerie In these our dayes vvhen archers did abound In Perth then famous for such pastime found Amongst the first for archers vve vvere knovvn And in that art our skil vvas lovvdly blovvn What time Perths credit did stand vvith the best And bravest archers this land hath possest We spar'd nor gaines nor paines for to report To Perth the vvorship by such noble sport Witnesse the links of Leith vvhere Cowper Grahame And Stewart vvin the price and brought it home And in these games did offer ten to three There to contend Quorum pars magna fui I mourn good Gall when I think on that stead Where yee did haile your shaft unto the head And with a strong and stedfast eye and hand So valiantly your bow yee did command A slidrie shaft forth of its forks did fling Clank gave the bow the whistling aire did ring The bowlt did cleave the clouds and threat the skyes And thence down falling to the mark it flies Incontinent the aimer gave a token The mark was kill'd the shaft in flinders broken Then softlie smyling good Gall thus quod I Now finde I time my archerie to try And heere by solemne vow I undertake In token of my love even for thy sake Either to hit the mark else shall I never More with these armes of mine use bow and quiver Therewith my ligaments I did extend And then a noble shaft I did commend Unto my bow then firmelie fixt mine eye And closelie leveld at Orions knee A star of greatest magnitude who kend it So well as I prayes you be not offended For I did use no magick incantation For to couduct my shaft I will finde cation Then cleverly my flen soone can I feather Upon my left arme was a brace of leather And with three fingers hailing up the string The bow in semicircle did I bring With soft and tender lowse out went the shaft Amids the clouds the arrow flew aloft And as directed by a skilfull hand With speedie flight the steadfast mark it sand The aimer gave his signe furth-with was known The shot was mine the boult in flinders flown Above his shaft in such difficile stead Closely I hit the mark upon the head Then on the plain we capreld wonder fast Whereat the people gazing were agast VVith kinde embracements did we thurst and thrimble For in these dayes I was exceeding nimble VVe leapt we danct we loudly laught and cry'd For in the earth such skill was never try'd In archerie as we prov'd in these daies Whereby we did obtaine immortall praise Then Gossop Gall quod I I dar approve Thou hast a trustie token of my love VVhat shall be said of other martiall games None was inlaking from whence bravest stemmes Victorious trophees palmes and noble pynes Olives and lawrels such as auncient times Decor'd the Grecian-victors in their playes And worthie Romanes in their brave assayes For tryall of their strength each match'd with other Whose beautie was sweat mix'd with dust together Such exercises did content us more Then if wee had possest King Croesus store But O! ye fields my native Perth neerby Prayes you to speak and truely testifie What matchlesse skill we prov'd in all these places Within the compasse of three thousand paces On either side while as we went a shooting And strongly strove who should bring home the booting Alongst the flowrie banks of Tay to Amound Ay when I hit the mark I cast a gamound And there we view the place where some time stood The ancient Bertha now ov'rflow'd with flood Of mightie waters and that Princely hold VVhere dwelt King William by the streame down rold Was utterly defac'd and overthrown That now the place thereof scarce can be known Then through these haughs of faire and fertile ground Which with fruit trees with cornes and flocks abound Meandring rivers sweet flowres heavenly honey More for our pastime then to conquesh money We went a shooting both through plaine and park And never stay'd till wee came to Lowswork Built by our mightie Kings for to preserve us That thenceforth waters should not drown but serve us Yet condescending it admits one rill Which all these plaines with cristall brooks doth fill And by a conduit large three miles in length Serves to make Perth impregnable for strength At all occasions when her clowses fall Making the water mount up to her wall When we had viewd this mightie work at randon We thought it best these fields for to abandon And turning home-wards spar'd nor dyke nor fowsie Untill we come unto the boot of Bowsie Alongst this aqueduct and there our station We made and viewd Balhowsies situation O'reluking all that spacious pleasant valley VVith flowres damasked levell as an alley Betwixt and Perth thither did we repair For why the season was exceeding fair Then all alongst this valley did
we hye And there the place we clearlie did espye The precinct situation and the stead VVhere ended was that cruell bloodie fead Between these cursed clans Chattan and Kay Before King Robert Iohn upon the day Appointed then and there where did conveene Thirtie 'gainst thirtie matcht upon that greene Of martiall fellows all in rageing mood Like furious Ajax or Orestes wood Alonely arm'd with long two-handed swords Their sparkling eyes cast fire in steed of words Their horride beards thrown brovves brusled mustages Of deadly blovves t'enshevv vvere vive presages Thus standing Fortuns event for to try And thousands them beholding one did cry VVith loud and mightie voice Stay hold your hands A little space vve pray The case thus stands One of our number is not heere to day This suddaine speach did make some little stay Of this most bloodie bargaine th' one partie fight VVould not unlesse the number vvere made right Unto the adverse faction nor vvas any That vvould it take in hand amongst so many Beholders of all ranks into that place On th' other side none vvould sustaine disgrace To be debarred from his other fellovves He rather hung seven yeeres upon the gallovves Thus as the question stood vvas found at length One Henry wind for triall of his strength The charge vvould take a sadler of his craft I vvot not vvell vvhether the man vvas daft But for an half french crovvn he took in hand Stoutly to fight so long as he might stand And if to be victorious should be tide him They should some yeerly pension provide him The bargaine holds and then withall their maine Their braikens bukled to the fight againe Incontinent the trumpets loudlie sounded And mightilie the great bag-pipes were winded Then fell they to 't as fierce as any thunder From shoulders armes and heads from necks they sunder All raging there in bloud they hew'd and hasht Their skin coats with the new cut were outâ—lasht And scorning death so bravely did they fight it That the beholders greatlie were affrighted But chiefly this by all men was observed None fought so fiercely nor so well deserved As this their hired Souldier Henrie Winde For by his valour victorie inclinde Vnto that side and ever since those dayes This proverb current goes when any sayes How come you heere This answere doth he finde I 'm for mine owne hand as fought Henrie Winde So finely fought he ten with him escapt And of th' other but one in flood who leapt And sav'd himself by swimming over Tay But to speak more of this we might not stay Thence did we take us to the other hand From this divided by a crystall strand From whence the King beheld with open sight The long-time doubtfull event of this fight From of his pleasant gardins flowrie wall Which we the guilted Arbor yet do call And here some monuments we did descrie And ruin'd heaps of great antiquitie There stood a temple and religious place And here a palace but ah wofull cace Where murthered was one of the bravest Kings For wisedome learning valour and such things As should a Prince adorn who trads and arts By men of matchlesse skill brought to thir parts From Italie Low Germanie and France Religion learning policie to advance King Iames the first of everlasting name Kill'd by that mischant traitour Robert Grahame Intending of his crown for to have rob'd him With twentie eight wounds in the breast he stob'd him Unnaturall parricide most bloudie traitour Accursed be thou above any creature And curst be all for so it is appointed That dar presume to touch the Lords anointed This phoenix Prince our nation much decord Good letters and civilitie restord By long and bloudie wars which were defaced His royall care made them be reembraced And he this citie mightilie intended To have inhanc'd if fates had condescended For which if power answer'd good-will we would With Gorgias Leontinus raise of gold A statue to him of most curious frame In honour of his dear and worthie name He likewise built most sumptuouslie fair That much renownd religious place and rare The Charterhouse of Perth a mightie frame Vallis virtutis by a mystick name Looking alongst that painted spatious field Which doth with pleasure profite sweetly yeeld The fair south Inch of Perth and banks of Tay. This abbayes stiples and it's turrets stay While as they stood but ah where sins abound The loftiest pride lyes leveld with the ground Were cunningly contriv'd with curious art And quintessence of skill in everie part My grandsire many times to me hath told it He knew their names this mightie frame who moldit Italians some and some were French men borne Whose matchlesse skill this great work did adorne And living were in Perth some of their race When that alace demolish'd was this place For greatnesse beautie statlinesse so fair In Britans Isle was said none might compare Even as Apelles for to prove his skill In limming Venus with a perfect quill Did not on some one beautie take inspection But of all beauties borrowed the perfection Even so this Prince to policie inclinde Did not on some one fabrick set his minde To make the prototype of his designe But from all works did all perfections bring And rarest paterns brought from everie part Where any brave Vitruvius kyth'd his art So that this great and princelie enterprise Perfections of all models did comprise And in this place where he doth buriedly VVas kept the Relict wherein he did dye His doublet as a monument reserv'd And when this place was raz'd it was preserv'd VVhich afterwards I did see for my part VVith hols through which he stab'd was to the heart Then good Gall thus quod I what shew of reason Mov'd this unnaturall traitour work such treason Reason good Monsier Gall did thus reply Reason so much in shew I do deny Reason No reason did he have at all But wormwood bitter malice Stygian gall VVithin this traitours heart did closely lurk VVhich moved him this tragedie to work And I would truelie tell this wofull storie But that my tongue doth faile mine heart 's so sorie Yet whiles that we unto the town do go Monsier the true occasion will I show This worthie Prince according to the taillie Made by King Robert when heirs male should faillie Of his Son David then Earle of Statherne So soone I say the King as he did learne That heirs male of this David were surceast Into these lands he did himself invest For David leaving after him no son His lands by right come back unto the crown Yet after him one daughter did survive In mariage which to Patrick Grahame they give To vvhom she bare a son one Melisse Grahame VVhose parents dying young Robert did clame As uncle and as tutor of these lands To have the charge devolved in his hands Which when the king most justlie did deny To give and gravelie shew the reason why This bloodie traitour from
kyth most skilfull and most pleasant game While to the lands of Loncartie we came Then thus quod I Good Gall I pray thee show For cleerly all antiquities yee know What meane these skonses and these hollow trenches Throughout these fellow-fields and yonder inches And these great heaps of stones like Pyramids Doubtlesse all these yee know that so much reads These trenches be Gall answering did reply Where these two armies Scots and Danes did ly Incamped and these heaps the trophae's be Rear'd in memoriall of that victorie Admir'd unlook't for conquest in that day Be th' only vertue of a Hynds-man Hay And his two sons from whence immortall praise He gain'd and glory of his name did raise To all succeeding ages as is said Of Briareus an hundreth hands who had Wherewith he fought or rather as we see A valiant Sampson whose activitie With his asse-bone kills thousands or a Shangar With his oxe-goad kills hundreths in his anger Even so this war-like wight with oxens yoak Beats squadrons down by his undaunted stroke And did regain the victorie neere lost Vnto the Scots by his new gathered host Of fearfull fleers in a wofull plight By his incouragements infusing might Into their nerves new spirits in their arters To make them fight in bloud unto the garters Against their hatefull foes who for to be Did fight more than for price or victorie Such cruelties their bloudie hearts possest To have old quarrells on us Scots redrest For utterly quail'd Pights and for their own Armies by us so often overthrown This worthie chieftains happie enterprise Which sav'd this countrie from the tyrannies Of cruell Danes and his two Mars-like sons Do for all ages wear the quernall crowns Like Thrasibulus ever bluming bayes Do adde much splendour to these worthie Hayes And alwayes since they for their weapons weild Three rubrick targets in a silver shield Which shield the soaring falcon doth sustaine To signifie these three men did obteine The publick safetie and the falcons flight By mounting shews their worth by lighting right Unto their lands for honours high regard Which in all ages should have due reward Like shall all finde who loyall to the state And countries well do prove though small or great Men shall them praise God shall preserve their stemmes Immortall fame shall canonize their names Thence forward went we unto Campsie-lin From whence the river falling makes such din As Nilus Catadups There so we sported It is impossible for to report it Whither we walk't or did we sit or stand Quiver was ty'd to side and bow in hand So that none thought us to be mortall wights But either Phoebus or fair Phoebe's Knights There we admir'd to see the Salmond leap And overreach the waters mightie heap Which from a mountain falls so high and steep And tumbling down devals into the deep Making the boyling waters to rebound Like these great surges neere by Greenland found Yet these small fish ov'rcome these watrie mountains And kindely take them to their mother fountains With what affection everie creature tenders The native soile Hence comes great Iove remembers His cradell Creet and worthie more than he Let th' idle Cretians at their pleasure ly Even these most worthie Kings of mightie race Come of great Fergus long to see the face Of their deare Caledonia whose soyle Doth make their kindelie hearts within them boyle To view these fields where Martiall men of armes Great monuments have rear'd with loud alarmes Of thundring trumpets by a hundreth Kings And seven one Queen what auncient Poet sings The like descent of Princes who their crowns And scepters have bestow'd upon their sons Or neerest kinsmen Neither is it so That this continued line had never fo To interrupt the same witnesse these standers That bear the Romane Eagle great commanders Of most part of the glob and cruell Danes Victorious elsewhere but not in our plaines Pights and old Britans more than these to tell Who in the compasse of this Iland dwell But praisde be God Britaine is now combinde In faith and truth one God one King one minde Let scoffers say that neither wyne nor oyle Whose want stay'd conquest growes within this soyle Yet if gold pearle or silver better be As most men them account it doth supplee Yea things more needfull for mans use it yeelds Heards flocks and cornes abound heere in our fields Wilde beasts in forrests of all kindes in plentie Rare fowls fruits fishes and what else is daintie Perpetuall fire to speak it in a word The like no where is found it doth afford Thus providence divine hath it ordained That humane commerce may be intertained All soyls should have yet none brings all things forth Yea grounds most barren oft have greatest worth Contained in their bowels this to tell us Non omnia producit omnis tellus Hence comes that men their gold for yron change And so far from there native countries rainge Their softest silk for coursest canvasse give Because by commerce men do better live Then by such things their native grounds forth measure By traffike they do finde more gaine and pleasure Yea things more simple much more usefull are And for mans well more profitable far Thus yron serves for all brave arts much more Then gold let Midas heap it up in store And canvasse serves for ventrous navigation Where silks are only for cloths green seek fashion And though wyne glad the heart yet stirres it strife But graine the staffe is which sustaines our life So humane fellowship to intertaine Our fishes and our corners bring oile and wyne But above all our soile throughout all parts Beares bravest Chiftans with couragious hearts These be the bar of conquest and the wall Which our most hatefull foes could never scall Would you behold one Hanniball o'returne Fourscore of thousands looke to Bannokburne Or would you see Xerxes his overthrow And flight by boat Edward the second know Or Carthaginian towres with all their mights Destroy'd view Camelon with faithlesse Pights Or would yee know great Castriot whose bones Could Martiall vertue give dig'd from the stones Where he did buried ly take for that part The Brusse and Douglas carrying his heart Through many lands intending it to have Solemnly buried in the Holy-grave This heart though dead within their hearts begetting Brave hearts 'gainst dangers their bold breasts outsetting VVould you a King for zeale unto Gods house Like Israels David Our Saint David chuse Or know King Iames the first like Iulius Caesar Or Gregorie like Alexander these are VVith many more the vvorthies vvhose renovvn By martiall deeds have keeped close this crown Yea more to speak of such heroick themes VVho knoweth not the worthie great King Iames Of Britains union first whose vertues great VVere more than equall to his royall seat VVhose matchlesse wisedome and most learned quill Did nectar and ambrosia distill And ravisht with amazements all who heard him But most for active prudence
all admir'd him Happie in all his life whose worthie name A peaceable Augustus did proclaime VVho conquered more by wit than by the sword And made all Europe muuh regard his word And good King Charles the son of such a Father Thrise happie by thy Virgine Crovvn yea rather More happie if more happinesse can be In earthly things by thy high pedegrie But most of all by Heaven vvhich hath appointed This maiden crovvn for thee the Lords Anointed The man of his right hand and for thy seed VVhich God mot blesse and all vvho shall proceed Forth of thy loines and stablish in thy place So long as Sun and Moone shall run their race Then reigne great Charles our nostrels svveetest breath Long may thou reigne Defender of the Faith Inthron'd among these vvorthie peerlesse pearles And let all say God save our good King Charles And deeply in his heart imprint that zeale To make the lavv supreame the peoples vvell VVhat shall vve speak of Martiall Chiftans more Of Gideons and of Sampsons vve have store VVhom God did raise for to defend our state Miraculously in times most desperate VVhat braver Hector or more brave Achilles In Greece or Phrygia than Sir William Wallace And Iohn the Grahame his mate and brother svvorn VVhose living fame his name doth much adorn And if vve list this subject more to handle What Governour like good Earle Thomas Randall Or doughtie Douglas vvith couragious heart Whose name vvrought dreadfull terrour in each part But this heroick theme so passing great Impossible it is all to relate Our worthie rulers even unto thir dayes They do not want their own deserved praise Nor shall they for my part want due renown Vertue t' advance and vice to trample down These be the wall of Gods own work and framing Against our foes and of his own maintaining Wherefore we blesse his holy Name that made us And pray that never forraine scepter lead us T' impose hard lawes and tributaries make us To chastise us with scorpions and to rake us And likewise pray that Ajax-like we would not Undo our selves which all our enemies could not But O dear Caledonia What desire Have all men who have heard thy fame t' admire Thy monuments How much more these who be Thy sons desire thy maiden soile to see Thy maiden castle and fair Maiden burgh The stately winged Citie which is through All ages much renow'nd with streets so fair And palaces so mounted in the air That if the deepnesse of imagination Could limme a landskape by deep meditation Scarce could it match where bravest youths abound And gravest counsellours are alwayes found Where Justice joineth hand with true Religion And golden vertue keep the middle region As register where these acts are enrold Better than in Corinthian brasse or gold Let Poetaster-parasits who fain And fawn and crouch and coutch and creep for gain And where no hope of gain is huffe and hur And bark against the Moone as doth a Cur Let such base curs who nought but gobbets smell Wish the disgrac'd and deeply sunk in hell Whether themselves do go yet shalt thou stand And see them ruin'd all that thee withstand God shall be-friend thy friends and shall all those Aray with shame that causelesse be thy foes Thou art this ancient Kingdomes bravest part For wit and worth thou art its hand and heart And who the Kingdomes compend brave would see Needs do no more but survey take of thee Hence these desires fair Caledonias soile To view where bravest stratagems with toile Have acted beene hence comes these kindly wishes To see these fields even like these kindly fishes Which we behold ov'rcome this mightie lin And seeke the fountaines where they did begin The third Muse. THus as wee did behold the Salmond sporting Wee spyed some Countrie clowns to us resorting Who striken were with suddain admiration To see us graithed in such antique fashion Their stairing eyes grew blinde their tongues were dumb A chilling cold their senses did benumme Said we What moves you Ghosts to look so griesly They scarcely muttering answered and not wisely Oft have we heard of such strange wights as yee But to this time we did them never see If yee be men or not scarce can we tell Yee looke like men yet none such heere do dwell Then said good Gall Monsier these fellowes stupid Doubtlesse take me for Mars and you for Cupid Therefore let us be gone we will not tarie Yon clownes will swear that they have seene the Farie When they come home at night and by the fire Will tell such uncouth tales all will admire Both man and wife the laddes and all the lasses For be yee sure such clownes are verie asses Thence downe the river bank as we did walk And mirrielie began to chant and talk A prettie boat with two oares we espy'd Fleeting upon the waters then we cry'd HOW boatman come two fisher men neerby Thus answered us againe And who doth cry Said we Good friends to favour us delay not The day is verie hot and walk we may not Therefore your kindly courtesie implores To let us have these little pair of oares For down the river we would make our way And land at Perth With all our heart said they For we likewise at Perth would gladly be Only we want such companie as yee All men were glad of us none did refuse What ever thing it pleasde us ask or chuse Then we inbarked with two boyes in train Who recollect our shafts and these two men As down the river did we softlie slide The banks most sweetly smyld on other side To see the flowres our hearts did much rejoice The banwort dazie and the fragrant rose Favonius in our faces sweetlie blew His breath which did our fainting sprits renew Then with Sicilian Muse can we dissemble Our secret flammes making our voices tremble While as we sweetlie sung kinde Amaryllis And did complaine of sowre-sweet lovely Phyllis So sadly that the Nymphs of woods and mountains And these which haunt the plains and crystall fountains Bare-legged to the brawns armes bare and brest Like whitest evorie bare unto the waste The lillies and the roses of their faces Running more pleasant made their waveing tresses VVell curled with the winde all these drew nye The waters brink in song to keep reply Treading the flowres VVhen Gall them so espy'd O! how he cast his eyes on either side And wish't t' have smeld one flovvr vvhere they had traced Judge vvhat he vvould have given to have embraced But chiefly Echo fettred vvas in love At everie vvord vve spoke her tongue did move Then did vve call Svveet Nymph pray thee dravv nye She ansvveering us most vvillingly said I Dravv neere said Gall for gladlie vvould I please thee Do not deny to heare me She said ease thee Then comesvveet Nymph thy face faine vvould I knovv She quickly ansvvering him againe said No. Why so said he Heere
sheepheards from the hyrelings voice Which as they did foretell did come to passe Some sixteene yeeres or thereby more or lesse Thus with cleare signes by Gods own Sprit exprest In full assurance of heavens blesse they rest Meane while Saint Catharins Chaplan standing by Wringing his eyes and hands did often cry Alace alace for this unhappie turn I feare for it one day we shall all mourn And that by all it shall be plainlie said That we blind guides the blinded long have led Some Churchmen there bad pack him heretick Else certainelie they should cause burne him quicke This done friends take their bodies and with mourning Do carie them towards the town returning With heavie hearts them to this chappell bring But no Soule Masse nor Dirigé durst sing Yet this good Priest did lay them on the altar And all night read the pistle and the psalter With heart devote and sad from th' evening vapers Placing upon the altar burning tapers Unto the dawning exequies thus ended Their bodies to the Earth are recommended This Chapell some time stood by our theater Where I my self sprinkled with holie water After these dayes did often heare the Messe Albeit I knew not what it did expresse But this I saw a man with a shaven crown Raz'd beard and lips who look't like a baboun Perfum'd with odours and in Priestlie vestures Did act this mimik toy with thousand gestures A misterie indeed nor which no fable Acted on stage to make you laugh more able After these innocents were martyred thus As you have heard Churchmen were odious And when occasion serv'd so did they finde For so soone as did blow a contrare winde The houre was come and then our Knox did sound Pull down their idols throw them to the ground The multitude even as a spear did rush then In poulder beat and cald them all Nehushtan Our blak Friers Church and place white friers and gray Prophan'd and cast to ground were in one day The Charterhouse like a Citadale did hold Some tvvo dayes more untill these nevves vvere told We should be raz'd and sackt and brought to ground Not so much as a footstep should be found Where vvas such citie neither sexe nor age Should saved be untill the cruell rage Of fire and svvord should satiat that moud Quenching the fire vvith Citizens ovvne bloud And vvith destructions besome svveep from station And savv vvith sault perpetuall desolation To signifie These nevves made great commotion The fearfull people ran to their devotion Doctrine and prayers done chief men advise To take in hand first vvhat great enterprise Said one This place hard by our tovvn doth stand A mightie strength vvhich easely may command And vvrake our citie therefore let us go In time and to the ground it overthrovv For sure our Enemies vvill possesse the same And us from thence destroy vvith svvord and flame Even at their pleasure Then they all conclude In armes to rise and rushing as a floud VVhich overflovves the banks and headlongs hurles The strongest bulvvarks vvith devouring vvhirles Svvallovving the mightie ships them overvvhelme Nothing availes his skill that guides the helme Even so the multitude in armes arise VVith noise confusde of mirth and mourning cryes For that fair Palace then sexscore nine yeeres VVhich had continued turning of the spheres The fatall period brought to ground it must And all its pomp and riches turne to dust Even as these Martyrs truelie did foretell In everie point the judgement so befell Towres fall to ground Monks flee to hide their heads Nothing availe their rosaries and beads Then all men cry'd Raze raze the time is come Avenge the guiltlesse bloud and give the doome Courage to give was mightilie then blown Saint Iohnstons huntsup since most famous known By all Musitians when they sweetlie sing With heavenly voice and well concording string O how they bend their backs and fingers tirle Moving their quivering heads their brains do whirle With diverse moods and as with uncouth rapture Transported so doth shake their bodies structure Their eyes do reele heads armes and shoulders move Feet legs and hands and all their parts approve That heavenlie harmonie while as they threw Their browes O mightie straine that 's brave they shew Great phantasie quivering a brief some while With full consent they close then give a smile With bowing bodie and with bending knee Me think I heare God save the Companie But harmonie which heavens and earth doth please Could not our Enemies furious rage appease Cruell Erinnis reignes destruction shoring Ten thousand souldiours like vvilde Lyons roaring Against our tovvn do merch fame desolation Proclaimes the church then nam'd the Congregation Makes for defence But ah the Burghs distractions Papists and Protestants make diverse factions The town to hold impossible they finde The fields to take they purpose in their minde Factions within munition victuall scarce Hardly to hold eight dayes they finde by search Amids these doubts these valiant fellowes come In armes aray'd and beatting of the drum With coards about their necks Come come they cry We be the men who are resolv'd to die First in this quarrell we to death will fight So long as courage will afford us might And who so yeeldes alive this tow portends Streight must he hing where did our dearest friends Who suffered for the truth nothing we skunner This certainlie we count our chiefest honour Thus as Manasses half tribe Ruben Gad Do leave their cattell and mount Gilead Before their brethren over Iordan go In armes to fight against their cursed fo So these three hundred do abandon quite Their citie houses goods and chief delite Resolv'd to die all for the Gospels light Armed before their brethren merch to fight And having gain'd a place meet to abide Their enemies to resist courage they cride Be merrie fellowes all leave sad complaints Dine cheerefullie for sup we shall with Saints Fame spreads the brave attempt all martiall hearts Inflam'd with divine zeale flock to these parts From places most remote in armes they rise T' assist the matchlesse happie enterprise God giveth hearts to Men and mightiest things By weakest meanes he to confusion brings Our enemies ears are fild that all our feare Was into courage turned from despare Their fierie rage is quencht their hearts do faile Where God forsakes nought doth mans strength availe Then what their open force could not work out By sleight they endevour to bring about They treat of peace peace flees with joyfull wings But under it was hatcht most lewd designes When time should serve But he whose thought doth rule This Worlds great frame their madnesse did controule And gratiouslie through his aboundant pitie Preserv'd our Innocents and sav'd our citie ded When by small means they found themselves confoun Even to their verie heart roots were they wounded Then they began to raile and shew their passion Saying Such riband's meet for such profession And in contempt when any rogue